One of the most recognisable characters of the Eurovision Song Contest, Irish musician and conductor Noel Kelehan has died at the age of 76 after a long illness. The news was announced on Monday night on RT news.Noel Kelehan was a renowned jazz pianist, and the former conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. He was also once the musical director of the Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, but best known to wider audiences as a the conductor of a number of Eurovision Song Contest songs. He was the conductor of five Irish Eurovision winners: Johnny Logan in 1980 and 1987, Linda Martin in 1992, Niamh Kavanagh in 1993 and The voice in 1996. The 1994 winner Rock’n roll kids did not use an orchestra, but Mr Kelehan conducted the runner-up song To nie ja from Poland that year.

In total Noel Kelehan conducted 29 Eurovision Song Contest entries, of which 24 were Irish. He retired from conducting in 1998, also the last year an orchestra was used at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The 1993 Irish Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh posted the following tribute on her Facebook page:

“I have just heard about the passing of Noel Kelehan, I cannot say enough about a talented and beautiful man, who I had the honour to know. He will be sadly missed. We shared a love of the wonderful standards.......and as we once played together I say, everytime we say goodbye I die a little, everytime we say goodbye I wonder why a little..........I know you are playing the music still Noel. RIP x”